Monday 9 January 2017

The Video Clip Every Boss Should Watch

This blog is mainly about pensions and communicating pensions. It's usually a short piece with a few links for the more interested. It's short because we don't have the patience to read or listen- especially if we are accessing this at work.

So this is different. It's a 15 minute video from Simon Sinek and it relates to  hiring 'Millennials' - ie those born in 1984 and later.

There is so much sense in what he says. If you're an employer, a department boss, you work in recruitment, or in HR, I recommend you take the time to view it. I appreciate it's longer than something you'd normally watch in work time, but you will be rewarded with some excellent insights. Enjoy.

 

Tuesday 3 January 2017

New Year Wishes

There will be a lot in the pensions press over the next few weeks relating to the New Year. A New Year goes along with New Year resolutions and wishes.

In pension terms, wishes are likely to revolve around simplified administration, easier investment access to difficult products and a plea to the politicians to be left alone. Some wishes may get granted- the current initiatives relating to data management are both welcome and likely to succeed. Investment products will simplify. And possibly – possibly – the Chancellor has enough on his plate not to interfere further in pensions.

The missing wish, though, is always there. Every year. Better communications. Too many people don’t know enough about their pension. Too many people without a pension are not concerned enough to do something about it.  

About now, with New Year resolutions in mind, the pension manager is returning to work and budgeting to communicate more efficiently. Maybe some focus groups. Maybe a survey. Maybe different methods of communicating including print and electronic.

Somewhere around mid-February, reality and the new budget process sets in and the dreams are forgotten. Another year of ‘doing what we’ve always done’ at as low a cost as possible.

So here’s a New Year wish. Please keep communications in your new year budget. Budget to use some pension communication experts. And change next years’ wishes.